Subaru WRC Season's Summary

Topics:  Subaru

Anthony Fontanelle
December 10, 2007

The 2007 Formula One season is already in the books as well as the NASCAR Nextel Cup's last season (it will be called the Sprint Cup next year). The American Le Mans Series is also over, and just recently, the World Rally Championship has reached its finale in Rally GB. One of the top teams this year is Subaru although it did little to faze Ford and Citroen on some events.

To start the season, Subaru had two drivers in former world champion Petter Solberg and Chris Atkinson. Midway to the season though, Subaru announced that they have secured the services of Xevi Pons to drive the team's third rally car.

The highest finisher for the team in the drivers' championship is Solberg ending up in fifth place after a so-so season. Solberg along with co-driver Phil Mills finished fifth after the grueling 2007 WRC season. The tandem's best result for the season is a second place finish on the fifth event of the year, the Rally Portugal. Solberg had two podium finishes, in the aforementioned event and at the event in Greece where the Norwegian rally driver finished third.

Solberg celebrated his birthday during the Rally Ireland but unfortunately did not win or even finish in the top three. He scored the most scores for Subaru in last season's campaign. Solberg had 13 fastest stage times through the season, his teammate Chris Atkinson also had the same number of fastest stage times.

Australian Chris Atkinson finished seventh at the end of the season. He climbed three places higher compared to his ranking at the end of the 2006 season. During the course of the season, Atkinson had two co-drivers. He started the season with Glenn Macneall. At the beginning of May though, before the Rally Argentina, Glenn stepped down, citing personal reasons for his exit. Macneall had been Atkinson's co-driver since the final round of the WRC in 2004. Belgian Stephane Prevot took Glenn's place.

The Australian's highest finish this season was fourth, achieving it thrice, in Monte Carlo, Finland, and New Zealand. Atkinson was given a two-year extension contract by Subaru after a good showing in September this year. The Australian will be back next season in search for that elusive championship with the help of Subaru's cars and racing parts such as Subaru struts.

Source:  Amazines.com